Scandinavian Languages 1
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course will give students a basic knowledge of the Nordic languages and linguistics. The final linguistic competence in the chosen Scandinavian language corresponds to level A2. The course also aims to set the basis for a passive competence in all Scandinavian languages.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will have knowledge of the basic traits of the Nordic linguistic landscape and of the Scandinavian languages with a first approach to passive understanding of all three. In the chosen Scandinavian language the student will develop skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking, corresponding to level A2.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
The course (prof. A. Meregalli) takes place in autumn term according to a schedule published on the MyAriel platform.
The aim of the course is to offer a linguistic overview of the Nordic Countries highlighting the main traits of the Scandinavian languages in a contrastive perspective. The first part will focus on the historical development and the present situation of the Nordic languages. The second part will concentrate on the main differences of the three Scandinavian phonological systems with special attention to modern usage.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni") over the whole year (see description on the specific page). The student can select either Danish (teacher to be appointed), Norwegian (J. Riseth), or Swedish (C. Bunge).
The course corresponds to 9 ECTS. Students from study programmes other than Foreign Languages can earn 6 ECTS if it is explicitly allowed by their syllabus. These students need contact the course instructor (A. Meregalli) as soon as possible.
This course syllabus is valid until February 2026.
The aim of the course is to offer a linguistic overview of the Nordic Countries highlighting the main traits of the Scandinavian languages in a contrastive perspective. The first part will focus on the historical development and the present situation of the Nordic languages. The second part will concentrate on the main differences of the three Scandinavian phonological systems with special attention to modern usage.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni") over the whole year (see description on the specific page). The student can select either Danish (teacher to be appointed), Norwegian (J. Riseth), or Swedish (C. Bunge).
The course corresponds to 9 ECTS. Students from study programmes other than Foreign Languages can earn 6 ECTS if it is explicitly allowed by their syllabus. These students need contact the course instructor (A. Meregalli) as soon as possible.
This course syllabus is valid until February 2026.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
Teaching methodologies: frontal lessons; class discussions of linguistic issues; individual study of critical literature.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni"). See the specific page for details.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni"). See the specific page for details.
Teaching Resources
Students will need to know the contents of the lessons and other classwork, including individual assignments.
Required readings: the following chapters from "The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages", ed. by Oskar Bandle et al., vol. II, Berlin / New York, de Gruyter, 2005 (available at the Libratry of Foreing Lnaguages and on the MyAriel page):
- Kjell Venås, "General tendencies in Nordic language cultivation and language planning", pp. 2013-2024.
- Lars S. Vikør, "Bilingualism in Schleswig, Finland, North Sweden, Northern Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland", pp. 2105-2114.
- Ulla Börestam Uhlmann, "Interscandinavian language contatct I: International communication and comprehensibility problems", pp. 2025-2031.
Students are also required to explore the digital resource 'Ethnologue' (access through the University Library), following the instructions given in class and on the MyAriel page.
PowerPoint presentations used in class and additional materials will be published on the MyAriel platform.
Non-attending students will find a coursepack prepared by the course instructor on the MyAriel platform by the end of the course.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni"). See the reading list on the specific page.
Required readings: the following chapters from "The Nordic Languages: An International Handbook of the History of the North Germanic Languages", ed. by Oskar Bandle et al., vol. II, Berlin / New York, de Gruyter, 2005 (available at the Libratry of Foreing Lnaguages and on the MyAriel page):
- Kjell Venås, "General tendencies in Nordic language cultivation and language planning", pp. 2013-2024.
- Lars S. Vikør, "Bilingualism in Schleswig, Finland, North Sweden, Northern Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland", pp. 2105-2114.
- Ulla Börestam Uhlmann, "Interscandinavian language contatct I: International communication and comprehensibility problems", pp. 2025-2031.
Students are also required to explore the digital resource 'Ethnologue' (access through the University Library), following the instructions given in class and on the MyAriel page.
PowerPoint presentations used in class and additional materials will be published on the MyAriel platform.
Non-attending students will find a coursepack prepared by the course instructor on the MyAriel platform by the end of the course.
The course is accompanied by practical classes ("esercitazioni"). See the reading list on the specific page.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is both written and oral.
The written exam (time: ca. 2 hours) includes: listening comprehension: dictation; grammar and vocabulary exercises; reading comprehension: reader with questions; written production: a short text on a given subject.
The oral exam consists of two parts. Part 1: a face-to-face dialogue in a Scandinavian language with the mother-tongue instructor on a theme corresponding to the contents of the practical course (ca. 10-15 mins). Part 2: a face-to-face interview in Italian with the course instructor on the contents of the course (ca. 15 mins). In part 1 the student will need to show their ability to express themselves and interact in the Scandinavian language at the required level. Part 2 aims to ascertain the student's knowledge of the course contents and understanding of the linguistic phenomena described in their complexity, their presentation and discussion skills, their use of technical terminology.
The student can choose whether to take the written or the oral exam first. The two parts of the oral exam need be taken on the same day. The whole exam must be completed within a year from the first part (written or oral).
The written exam and the oral exam-part 1 are graded with letters (from A=excellent to E=satisfactory; F=failed). The results of the written exam are normally published on the MyAriel platform. The oral exam-part 2 is graded on a 30-point scale. The final grade is awarded on a 30-point scale and takes into accout the result of the oral exam-part 2 (50%) and of the other parts (50%).
Students that attend the practical course (esercitazioni) on a regular basis (at least 75% of lessons per term) can take 'partial' tests at the end of each term (November/December and May). These partial tests replace the written exam and the oral exam-part 1. The contents and structure of the partial tests are similar to the written exam and oral exam-part 1 (see above). The final grade is based on the test results of November/December and May.
At the end of the course (corso monografico) there will be a test for attending students, if practical conditions (classroom size, number of participants etc.) allow it. This test replaces the oral exam-part 2. Details will be discussed in class.
Students who possess a linguistic certificate in the chosen Scandinavian language at A2 level (or higher) need only take the oral exam-parts 1 and 2 (see list of valid certificates on the webpage of the Course in Foreign Languages and Literatures).
Students can reject the result of the written and/or oral exam (in the latter case, this will be registered as "ritirato"/withdrawn).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible.
Students with SLD are advised to contact the course instructor in order to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
The written exam (time: ca. 2 hours) includes: listening comprehension: dictation; grammar and vocabulary exercises; reading comprehension: reader with questions; written production: a short text on a given subject.
The oral exam consists of two parts. Part 1: a face-to-face dialogue in a Scandinavian language with the mother-tongue instructor on a theme corresponding to the contents of the practical course (ca. 10-15 mins). Part 2: a face-to-face interview in Italian with the course instructor on the contents of the course (ca. 15 mins). In part 1 the student will need to show their ability to express themselves and interact in the Scandinavian language at the required level. Part 2 aims to ascertain the student's knowledge of the course contents and understanding of the linguistic phenomena described in their complexity, their presentation and discussion skills, their use of technical terminology.
The student can choose whether to take the written or the oral exam first. The two parts of the oral exam need be taken on the same day. The whole exam must be completed within a year from the first part (written or oral).
The written exam and the oral exam-part 1 are graded with letters (from A=excellent to E=satisfactory; F=failed). The results of the written exam are normally published on the MyAriel platform. The oral exam-part 2 is graded on a 30-point scale. The final grade is awarded on a 30-point scale and takes into accout the result of the oral exam-part 2 (50%) and of the other parts (50%).
Students that attend the practical course (esercitazioni) on a regular basis (at least 75% of lessons per term) can take 'partial' tests at the end of each term (November/December and May). These partial tests replace the written exam and the oral exam-part 1. The contents and structure of the partial tests are similar to the written exam and oral exam-part 1 (see above). The final grade is based on the test results of November/December and May.
At the end of the course (corso monografico) there will be a test for attending students, if practical conditions (classroom size, number of participants etc.) allow it. This test replaces the oral exam-part 2. Details will be discussed in class.
Students who possess a linguistic certificate in the chosen Scandinavian language at A2 level (or higher) need only take the oral exam-parts 1 and 2 (see list of valid certificates on the webpage of the Course in Foreign Languages and Literatures).
Students can reject the result of the written and/or oral exam (in the latter case, this will be registered as "ritirato"/withdrawn).
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible.
Students with SLD are advised to contact the course instructor in order to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Checcucci Edoardo, Meregalli Andrea
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 3 p.m. on Teams (code: 0pl49fy) or at office. Please contact me in advance in order to organize office hours.
Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Mediations. Piazza S. Alessandro, 1